thinking of gettin a guitar

Subject: thinking of gettin a guitar
From: Peg
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 07:39 PM

I sold my lovely "lawsuit" Tachamine a few years ago when I returned home broke from a summer in Europe and realized i didn't play it very often anyway.

Damn thing is now worth a fortune.

Be that as it may, I now think I would like to have a guitar in my life again if only to help come up with ideas for arrangements for recording (I will never be able to accompany myself when singing).

I saw a newer (but used) Tachamine in a shop today: mahogany steel string; perfect size for me, nice sound, the body had a few dings. $300 included a gig bag. Does this sound like a good deal? (I would imagine it cost twice that new)

anyone?

Should I hold out for a nice used Martin?

They also had a LOVELY Vega mandolin from the 1920s; only $700!!!

wow did I want that

Subject: RE: thinking of gettin a guitar
From: ddw
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 08:23 PM

Peg — Just my opinion, but I'd advise against holding out for a nice used Martin if there's a guitar you like and it's affordable.

Mind you, I'm no fan of Martins to start with. Don't think I've heard more than one or two in my life I would even CONSIDER owning. I just don't like their sound. The bass is loud, but usually more metalic than I like and the treble (particularly up the neck) is very tinny. Was in a music store today and the proud owner of a new D-35 was showing off his guitar. I didn't have the heart to tell him what I thought of it.

Anyway, I'd say go for the Tachamine — if you like the sound and feel, you can't go wrong at that price. And you might be able to have it and the Vega mando too for less than you'd pay for the Martin nameplate.....

JMHO...

david

Subject: gettin' a guitar?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 09:30 PM

I'd rather have no guitar than a Tachamine... but that's just my taste... I'm with DDW on the Martin front as well...

I've said it before and I'll say it again... try Seagull... Can this many mudcatters be wrong?

:-)

Subject: RE: thinking of gettin a guitar
From: 53
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 09:55 PM

Peg,

My opinion is "go for the Takemine" if you like it. I own one that I thouroughly enjoy. I usually say it "plays itself".

I also own a Gibson J-40 and recently got a Taylor Big Baby for my wife and enjoyed playing it so much my kids got me one for Father's Day!

Go for the guitar you like and the deal does sound great.

Bob

Subject: RE: thinking of gettin a guitar
From: Little Hawk
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 09:58 PM

I've heard (and owned) Takamine guitars that I loved, and I've played some that I was not too impressed with. The rule is...if you really LIKE that particular guitar, then I'd say "Buy it" .

- LH

Subject: RE: thinking of gettin a guitar
From: Mudlark
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 10:11 PM

Dear Peg...

I would say that at $300, BUY IT, no matter what the name is...if it sounds good to you, that is not a lot to pay for a sound you enjoy. 2 years ago I switched from a classical guitar to a little 016 Martin parlor guitar that I absolutely love...was fearful that the steel strings would be too brash for all the olde englishe stuff I sing but that's not the case at all...it mellow and subtle. It's 40+ yrs old, which helps (never trust anyone under 40!).

Subject: RE: thinking of gettin a guitar
From: 53
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 10:15 PM

Peg,

Okay, I'm over 40. It's safe to take my advise. And several other seem to agree. Go get that Takamine before someone else beats you to it!

Bob

Subject: RE: thinking of gettin a guitar
From: kendall
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 10:16 PM

Go with what you want because you will never be satisfied with a second choice. As you know, I am stuck on Taylors, but, this is not for me, it's for you. Go for it. Why do you tell yourself that you will never be able to play and sing at the same time?

Subject: RE: thinking of gettin a guitar
From: Peg
Date: 30 Jul 01 - 11:46 PM

thanks all! Your advice is wonderful. I cannot afford that Vega mandolin unfortunately; wish I could. I might ask about layaway...

Kendall, I just think it would take me years to become a good enough player to be able to accompany myself and not take away from my singing...my voice will always be my main instrument, wouldn't you say?

Though I would love to learn to accompany myself on some instrument. Got that little harp a few months ago with that dream in the back of my mind; now just have to learn to play the darn thing...

Peg

Subject: RE: thinking of gettin a guitar
From: DonMeixner
Date: 31 Jul 01 - 12:05 AM

Peg,

My standard advice is to play a bunch of guitars and ignore the name. How it plays and how it sounds is acres more important than the name it carried. I have a Martin 0-16NY I love, sounds great but I can't play it because its too wide fr damaged fingers. I have a Guild f-30 that is just the best. I also have my old Yamaha FG 180 that sounds like the Martin and plays like the Guild.

Buy what ypou like and pay what its worth to you to own it.

Don

Subject: RE: thinking of gettin a guitar
From: Marion
Date: 31 Jul 01 - 12:16 AM

You might want to check out this thread:

Info/opinions on Takamine etc.

Marion

Subject: RE: thinking of gettin a guitar
From: Wesley S
Date: 31 Jul 01 - 11:26 AM

My advise is get the Tak. I'm not a big fan of their stuff { I'm a Martin fan } but if it speaks to you - get it. It sounds like a good price and I would think you could get most or all of your value back if and when you decide to sell it and get another guitar. You might want to see if you can get a friend that plays well to take a look at it to get their opinion also. That way you can sit in front of the guitar and see how it really sounds.

Subject: RE: thinking of gettin a guitar
From: Peg
Date: 31 Jul 01 - 11:54 AM

thanks again; again, more great advice!

I am gonna go look at the Takamine again today...and also inquire about a payment plan for that Vega, damn what a beautiful thing...

Peg

BTW rumours of my demise have been greatly exaggerated; and have led me to try and make more music...

Subject: RE: thinking of gettin a guitar
From: ChanteyMatt
Date: 31 Jul 01 - 02:27 PM

I had a Takamine for a while before it was stolen. I liked it a lot. I now have a Martin and a Larrivee. Ask yourself this question:

How would you feel if you didn't get it and then wnet back to buy it and found it was gone? If you decide you'd feel bad, buy it now. If not, keep looking. Remember a guitar in the hand is a guitar in the hand.

Subject: RE: thinking of gettin a guitar
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 31 Jul 01 - 03:04 PM

I've been the happy owner of an Epiphone Serenader 12 string, which I bought second hand; for 33 years now, but I always wanted a D28, 2 years ago I got one and I love it dearly. Now I've decided I want to learn banjo, long neck 5 string, so how about some good advice from you guys out there as to what to buy, and roughly what I should pay. Maybe recommend a good tuition book as well!!

Jock

Subject: RE: thinking of gettin a guitar
From: Walking Eagle
Date: 31 Jul 01 - 05:37 PM

My thinking, see if you can get the Tak on consignment and play the hell out of it and then see if you still like it. If so, get it. IF you think you'll regret not trying/buying it, then you probably will. I just got a Martin D Lefty and I really like it. I knew I would regret not getting one, so it will be paid for somehow. Who needs new clothes anyway?

Subject: RE: thinking of gettin a guitar
From: mooman
Date: 31 Jul 01 - 06:02 PM

Dear Peg,

Again I have my own preferences in guitars different to most of those above...we all do!

All guitars however are individual in character based on a combination of a multitude of factors. If you like the Takamine, it feels right to you and you like the sound of it, I'd say buy it like most people above. I don't live in the States but the price sounds pretty good to me.

I'm also pretty sure it won't take you long to learn enough to accompany yourself well, don't worry about it taking away from your singing.

All the best,

mooman

Subject: RE: thinking of gettin a guitar
From: kendall
Date: 31 Jul 01 - 07:35 PM

Peg, if you insist on playing the guitar as well as you sing, you may not live long enough, but, then, most of us wouldnt. (play as well as YOU sing that is)

Subject: RE: thinking of gettin a guitar
From: Midchuck
Date: 31 Jul 01 - 08:23 PM

Kendall, I just think it would take me years to become a good enough player to be able to accompany myself and not take away from my singing...my voice will always be my main instrument, wouldn't you say?

What Kendall said. Peg, the point is that the better you sing, the less complex your guitar work has to be. With your voice, the guitar should be very simple indeed. Any complexity in the guitar work would distract from it. The songs you do that are very free-form in their rhythm, should probably remain unaccompanied. The ones that have a fixed rhythmic structure could use the guitar, but plain-vanilla chords and a simple strum or boom-chuck is all you need.

IMO.

Peter.

Subject: RE: thinking of gettin a guitar
From: Peter T.
Date: 31 Jul 01 - 08:58 PM

Emmylou Harris has an amusing remark in her interview in Acoustic Guitar this month (See other thread). She says that one reason why she has a snazzy guitar (Gibsons mostly) is that people will think she must be a great player even though as a rhythm guitarist she will be mostly doing I-IV-Vs to accompany her singing. (I am not putting this forward as advice, just reporting!)
yours, Peter T.